Tsunami Report(Page 21-40)

Fishing HarbourAgricultural LandsBeach TourismFIG 29. Glimpse of damage occurred in Nagapattinam.5.3.5. Tsunami in Andaman and Nicobar islands and observations on runup levelsThe Andaman and Nicobar islands located in the subduction zone of Burma Plate isclassified as Seismic zone 5 indicating high level of risks due to earthquake (Fig. 30).Tsunami waves hit the Nicobar group of islands within few minutes andreached Port Blair in South Andaman at 07:15 hrs (Fig.15), immediately after itsgeneration at 06:45 hrs at Sumatra, indicating the traveling speed of about700 km/hr. The waves transformation varied at different locations (depending on thecoastal geomorphology) and the tips of islands faced more fury of tsunami waves.The Nicobar group of islands namely Great Nicobar, Katchall, Teressa, Nancowry,Trinkat, Car Nicobar etc. were severely affected by tsunami waves as they are closerto the epicenter and also smaller in nature surrounded by the sea all around. Theimpact on Andaman group of islands were less except on Little Andamans due totheir geometry and nature of topography (Fig.30). Since the settlement in SouthAndaman islands is largely confined in sheltered areas like bays and they are farfrom the coast and more importantly the settlement areas are in elevated areasexcept in certain low elevated far inland locations like Sippighat area, there werealmost no loss of life, but damage to properties especially to fishing vessels were23